Wisconsin Wild Mushroom Forager Certification Course
The course includes:
- a PDF study guide, sent to you by email - you maintain access to this study guide for ongoing reference
- a day of instruction in the curriculum in-person
- administered test on the curriculum in-person, that same day
- a break for lunch with catering available
- grading of your test and communication of your results within 14 days of testing
- if passing, 3 year certification in the state of Wisconsin to sell approved wild foraged fungi to grocery stores and restaurants
- if passing, a paper card printed showing you are certified
- the card includes a QR code that leads to a webpage maintained by WMS affirming your certification
- the cost of "recertification" following your 3 years of certification expiration date will be less than the initial cost of certification
The course covers:
- key identification practices for approved species for sale to grocery stores and restaurants in Wisconsin
- correct handling and storage of wild harvested fungi for sale
- use of "Wisconsin Statement of Sale for Wild Mushrooms" forms to document your transactions
Wisconsin Wild Mushroom Currently Approved Species List
Morels (genus Morchella)
Chanterelles (genus Cantharellus)
Trumpets (genus Craterellus)
Boletes (Boletus edulis clade)
Oyster mushrooms (genus Pleurotus)
Hedgehog mushrooms (genus Hydnum)
Lobster mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum on species of Lactifluus and Russula)
Lion’s Mane, Bear’s Head, and Comb Tooth (genus Hericium)
Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare)
Maitake / Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa)
Ischnoderma resinosum
Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus cincinnatus, and Laeitporus sulphureus
Giant Puffball Calvatia gigantea
Ganoderma Species considered 'Reishi' - Ganoderma tsugae, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma sessile
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
If it is not on this list, and it is a wild foraged fungi you will not be able to legally sell to grocery stores, restaurants, or any purchaser for grocery stores or restaurant use in any venue (i.e., a chef buying from you at a farmer's market). We are able to expand the species covered over time, and are interested in feedback from you -- the mycological community.
Who is required to gain this certification, and by when? How will it be enforced, and by who?
It is our understanding from our conversations with the WI DATCP that this certification is required Starting in January 2024 for any person selling wild foraged fungi to grocery stores, restaurants, or any agent purchasing on behalf of grocery stores or restaurants. The law will be enfored by health inspectors, who will check for appropriately filled out Wisconsin Statement of Sale for Wild Mushrooms forms as filled out by you and held by the purchasers of your wild foraged fungi for 90 days.
It is very much in the best interests of sellers of wild foraged fungi covered under this law to obtain this certification, comply with the documentation, and support your buyers in following the law and having a good experience purchasing your fungi. You represent yourself, your business, and the community of wild foraged fungi sellers as a whole.
Is this course open to those who are interested from a purely educational standpoint?
Yes! You are very welcome to sign up regardless of your intentions of being certified, or using your certification for business purposes. You will be able to register as a course taker who intends to take the test at the end and therefore potentially obtain certification, or as a course taker who will not take the test and not obtain certification, but who will be fully welcome to a seat in the course and learning engagement with the teacher and teaching assistants.
The cost of this course with testing and (if passing) certification is: $125.00
The cost of this course without testing and without certification is: $80.00
The cost of retaking the test at a later course date within the same year: $15.00 (available if not passing in your first try)
Cost of recertification once your 3 years of certification are expired is to be detemined. It will be less than the cost of your initial course and certification. You will have each certification listed besides your name and preferred contact information on our website -- this help you will establish your history and experience in the field!
Registration policies:
If you register for a specific date, you are counting toward the numbers we expect for that class. For this reason, cancellation with refund is only available 15 days or more prior to your course date. Please be sure about being able to make it if you sign up!
If you have not yet confirmed a specific date but pre-registered and need to cancel, you can reach out to us and can be granted a full refund minus applicable processing fees.
If you register for a specific date, you are counting toward the numbers we expect for that class. For this reason, cancellation with refund is only available 15 days or more prior to your course date. Please be sure about being able to make it if you sign up!
If you have not yet confirmed a specific date but pre-registered and need to cancel, you can reach out to us and can be granted a full refund minus applicable processing fees.
"Red Lobster" mushroom photographed by Mariah Rogers at the WMS 2022 Northwoods Foray - observed here on iNaturalist: www.inaturalist.org/observations/134907142
